backyard art inspired by Antoni Gaudi

21 Feb

Guadi mosaic

I have an architectural obsession with the work of Antoni Gaudi the Spanish architect known for his beautiful stone and mosaic cathedrals and public spaces. His work flows and his detail is unmatched. I have a lot of colorful tile left over from projects here and there and since I am working on my garden and my daughter’s play space this spring, I wanted to start searching for some cool mosaic projects.

Mosaic "Mexican" style flower pot

I love this pot and this egg, their amazing color mimic the color Gaudi uses which is something I think I want to incorporate. I am thinking of making a mosaic tile art piece that inspires imaginative play for my daughter. I either want to cast it and frame it to hang on the fence by her sandbox or I want to build it right into the ground. I think either would be really nice.

Large Mosaic Egg garden decor-Vividhome

I really like this mosaic letter idea from inspired by nature as well. Incorporating the alphabet into my daughters play garden area would be a cool idea.

Wall Hanging Monogram- natureinspiredcrafts

Below I have found a stepping stone that is bright and vivid. Stepping stones or a cool mosaic path could be another project. I love the colors in this one below!

Red Hot Heart Mosaic Stepping Stone- brendapokorny

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how to decorate a partial height wall or ledge

20 Feb

driftwood side-table- sophiashines

In my house, we have several partial height walls that have ledges at the top. Currently, I have all of mine bare because they are a challenge to decorate. I have seen many people use fake plants and collections of one thing or another but they always kind of look too much like a display shelf in a store or a contrived window display.

If I am going to put something on top of these partial height walls I want it to make a statement.. something simple, something easy to view from that angle, and something that wont look cluttery or messy. I am thinking one or two cool, somewhat bold pieces at separate ends of the ledge will do the trick.

Vintage Window- emilyhatch

I am thinking of trying some pieces in my living room that are classic, like a rustic step stool. I want to keep my decor in line with the other decor in the room so I am going to stick with rustic pieces but in sea-toned colors.  I was also thinking of getting an old chest and hoisting it up on my ledge space. Behind the chest an old window just leaning against the wall could start to create the rustic scene. (Of course, in California we have to think about earthquakes so don’t forget to properly secure heavy things).

sailor's chest- laczoart

Another item I was thinking would look cool up on the ledge space would be multiple stacks of colorful books at differing heights. The space could almost become a remnant of an old home library.

Vintage Tangerine Decorative book stack- thebotanicalbee

To add to this rustic travel and library concept, something that would be cool would be a short wooden ladder. I think all of these items are big enough to be seen from below and they all add to the whimsical nature I want to bring into the room. I will have to admit though, this ledge space is definitely a hard design problem, does anyone else have any ledge space decor ideas?

distressed green display ladder- antiquesurveyor

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create an island getaway in your kitchen

17 Feb

Antique Farmhouse Table Island - ingenuityondisplay

I think a kitchen island can be the modern-day hearth of the home as we tend to congregate in the kitchen area to eat and taste what’s being cooked. An island is  a place to cook, make a mess, be creative, throw things  when you walk in the door arms full and even dine on. I love the space for my kitchen island but I am ready for a new look. I would like something more rustic and country looking, with a butcher block top (because I love to cook) and something that is beautiful in its own right… gets better with use. The antique piece above would be a great starting point for what I am thinking of, it has great character.

Weekend Sale Soda Crate - ingenuityondisplay

If you find a large-scale vintage table with a truly sturdy and sufficient wood surface you could easily add planks to the bottom of it to create a storage shelf. Old-fashioned milk or soda crates would work perfectly to set atop a low shelf and have many slots for storage organization.

Commercial Vintage Butcher Block Table- BAGACAUSE

These custom-built islands are good options I found on Etsy as well. I love all of the storage they already have built-in. You could easily install some hooks on the underside of a butcher-block top to hang pots and pans for extra storage.

Kitchen Island- michaelmaloney10

Don’t under-estimate your taste in large-scale antique pieces. They have great character and it is hard to find something as special.

custom reclaimed wood kitchen island- oldbarnstar1

Kitchen Island- columbiawoodfurnish

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create an outdoor vanity space for your yard

16 Feb

Empty Painted Picture Frames- RetroPops

I love to bring the outdoors inside but today I want to talk about the opposite effect. If you have a fence in your backyard you can add a little personality to your outdoor space by creating a little outdoor vanity. First you can repurpose some old picture frames for this project by removing the glass and painting them multiple colors or one color that you really want to incorporate in your backyard.

Rustic Floating Wood Shelf - ReclaimedTrends

Next mount a rustic style shelf on your fence just as you would indoors. You can then arrange the picture frames above the shelf along with a repurposed mirror to create a cool outdoor vanity space. You can add decor items like potted plants and garden statues or tools that go with your outdoor theme.

Wall Mirror, White Framed- MiscKDesigns

This is a really simple project but would add a lot of old garden house character to your backyard. If you have children you could even tailor this project to fit a child’s theme in their outdoor play area. I think it will be fun to try this and adding personal touches could really make it cool. Any other ideas out there to add to this thought?

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how to choose paint colors that mean something

15 Feb

Orange Piza Italy Bicycle Bike- j2studiosphotography

Choosing paint colors can be daunting to some but I think it is fun and a great expression of your style. Nothing can uplift your environment as much as a new paint scheme.

geometric wall architecture- TidbitsStudio

To choose colors for your rooms first think of how you want that room to feel. Is it important for the room to feel sophisticated or vibrant, calm or busy?

In other countries people use these rich tones with no regard but it seems like in the US we are often scared and stick to the traditional white color wheel which can be a little monotonous at times. I think it is fun to try to bring in color that really speaks to you, think of your travels, what have you seen that you can identify with? Personally, I love bright Italian and Greek color schemes, they make me feel lighter, happier and sun-shiny.

Architecture in Santorini- wzphotography

Another way to choose paint colors is to draw from a piece of art or a wall hanging of some type that you really love. You can choose one color from a piece of art that is brilliant or even subdued and find a close match in the paint section. Your selection doesn’t have to be so intense that it overpowers you but your art should be a reflection of your style so it is a great place to look for different color combinations.

Architecture in Santorini- wzphotography

Additionally, try adding a bold accent like a stripe all the way around your room for a fun effect. This gives an otherwise standard room (found in many starter homes) some architectural dimension and it gives you a way to break up your art on the wall and make it more interesting (e.g. you can now hang art above, below or in between the stripe). Don’t be afraid to try some new color, the worst that will happen is you will have to repaint the wall again if you hate it. Painting is a great weekend project and an affordable update with a lot of bang for your buck.

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what I am making for my husband for Valentines Day

14 Feb

frame the key to your first home

so after you have been together or ten years, what do you give your husband for Valentines  Day? I am inspired by this idea I found on pinterest…. the most addictive and fun website… EVER.

I want to frame a key of our first home because I know regardless of how long we stay here it will always be so special to both of us. And in the background of my frame instead of the newspaper shown above, I am going to type all of our older addresses because we lived together through college so we have a lot of old apartment addresses.

I hope he likes it. I know it is something we can cherish when we’re old! Happy love day to everyone out there!

xoxo,

Amy

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how to use travel to improve your home

13 Feb

Travel Photography - Pink New Orleans- cafenatalie

The best home decor is something that reflects your personal style and what more reflects your style than your travel photography? If you have cool, colorful shots from a travel destination, blow them up to an 8×10 or 11×14 size and then mat and frame them. They will look good and give you a daily reminder of some great trip memories.

Travel Photography - Scooter and Graffiti- Photo Larks

I prefer to use architectural photos because I think architecture speaks monumentally about a place and photography of architecture is a timeless archive. I do also like to enlarge and frame unexpected scenes like this scooter above.

Venice Italy Murano Photograph- ChaseLindberg

Basically anything from Venice is frame-able the whole area is filled with dreamy scenes like the one pictured above, however, I love this particular one because of it’s intensely bright colors.

Seaview Cafe Hope Alaska- TravelingGalPhotos

Historical cafes and houses also make great subjects. You can even enlarge them in black and white for  a modern home decor approach. My easy advice on capturing the perfect scene, take lots and lots of photos while traveling. When you get home you can sift through and edit the ones that you think would look well in your home, reflect your style and help you remember a great adventure.

San Francisco Colorful Houses Photography- JessaMaePhoto

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how to use your grandmother’s glass to decorate for spring

11 Feb

I am really becoming obsessed with white milk glass items, the kind of glass my grandmother stashed away. My mother, sisters and I always wonder what to do with all of that family glass, you know, the type that you aren’t really supposed to use because it’s old and fragile so it remains hidden away in your china cabinet? Since spring is right around the corner and I think milk glass is a great item to pull out and actually utilize if you have some. If you don’t have any, you can hunt for it on Etsy or in antique stores and bonus it is pretty affordable!

Milk Glass Vase Collection- Vintage Herend

I recently wrote a post on how to use Cake Stands to elevate your kitchen decor. Well, just think of how beautiful it would be to elevate some light spring pastel pillar candles or blossoms amongst several different heights of these gorgeous milk glass vases. The different heights can play against each other and create a real harmonious spring look (think “growing flowers”)

Vintage Milk Glass Vases- CountryHomeCityHome

I think in general we are afraid to use white just as we are afraid to use grandma’s glass or china but the combinations could really lead to some beautiful still life in your home. For spring you can easily add one blossoming branch to a white vase and the subtlety would be intensely beautiful.

Yellow Lemons in Milk Glass Bowl- PrettyPetalStudio

I love the understated look of these simple lemons in this milk glass bowl. The easy part about decorating with this beautiful glass is you only need to add one or two subtle colors and your tabletop or shelf will really pop against the white. The contrast is great.

Sale Milk Glass Candle Holders- CameoLace

These candle holder’s would be fabulous with some turquoise or lavender candle sticks for a spring meal.

Vintage Fenton Hobnail Milk Glass Cake Stand- Tie The Knot Vintage

And lastly, I have to throw in a few cake stands as you know I love to use them in multiple ways! Bring out the special glass and china you never use and don’t forget that white is the perfect foundation to build a spring look from, it is fresh and new, just like the season. If you are as excited about spring as I am check out this image treasury I created Cant Wait for Spring!

Vintage Milk Glass Cake Stand- thevintagetreehouse

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striking sofa style, chose a standout piece

10 Feb

Cast Iron Bathtub Couch- ruffhouseart

I have to say, when thinking of chosing a sofa for my house I probably wouldn’t think claw-foot bathtub, but since it is a Friday, I want to have a little fun! How cool are these Bathtub Sofa’s by Ruffle House Art? I don’t know that I would personally use one in my home, but I think they would be awesome on a garden patio! They are colorful and witty!

Dragon Slayer Sofa- sprucehome

If I had an empty room to incorporate bold furniture I would love to choose a vintage style sofa that has a bold shape and color. I think all of these standout sofas are eye candy, but if you had the space they would be an awesome place to read or lounge.

Classic baby blue couch- namedesignstudio

I love the shape of this bright blue one and although the pattern is eccentric, it is fun and really, isn’t that what our spaces should reflect?

Blue Black Houndstooth French Regency- metrosofa

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how to make a built in window seat

9 Feb

custom window seat cushions- Posh Play

I am a proponent of making things, building-wise, as easy as possible which is why I love to come up with projects that involve Etsy-finds. Etsy is a great resource of skilled artisans that can be utilized to compose multiple home-makeover projects. Today I am thinking of ways that I can create a built-in window seat for my family in part of a nook/window area of my kitchen.

Custom Bench Seat or Window Seat Cushion- Taterbabies Boutique

I will need to get the basics built-in first, the bench seat area. I am thinking I could use some reclaimed wood or wooden crates for a nice country touch, probably white-washed. Then I will pick some bold fabric to make some bench cushions from. I am really liking something like the blues shown above because I have a lot of this color in my kitchen and it would contrast well as a tailored alternative to rustic wood.

Abandoned Farm House Wall- Jacks Landing

I want to use a low, circular table for the tabletop so that it can be easily removed at times. A smaller table can accommodate a toddler lunch or just coffee with a friend on a Saturday. I know this project will be a lot of work but it will be well worth it in the end.

Black round table- StylishPatina

Has anyone out there ever built a window seat? If so, do you have any basic tips for building the benches?

createic dining table- FurnitureByKate

 

 

 

 

I will need to

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